Job Description of a Crisis Response Dog
–Reports To: Certified Handler, who may feel weepy, overwhelmed, and tired.
–Job Overview: Responsible for raising the spirits of people whose lives have been dramatically changed by devastating circumstances, without saying a word.
-Success is Measured By:
- The number of sad faces turned to smiles
- The number of hearts warmed for an instant
- The number of humans provided with a moment of normalcy
–Duties:
- Approach hundreds of strangers who may be at the lowest points of their lives
- Offer a warm furry body to provide comfort through the sense of touch
- Care about humans with every fiber of your body
- After comforting people you don’t know, comfort your handler
–Qualifications:
- Education & Certification
- Obedience trained (CGC level)
- Therapy Dog registered
- Abilities
- Ability to ignore food left on the floor, even if it smells really good and you are hungry
- Ability to maintain composure around forklifts, people yelling, crying babies, boxes falling, inclement weather, big trucks revving engines, sirens, airplanes and other chaotic noises
- Ability to endure hugs around the neck
- Ability to endure boredom while handler chit-chats with other humans
- Skills
- On all types of footing, walk on a leash without pulling
- Sit when told
- Down when told
- Stay when told
–Physical Characteristics
- Be a dog
Truman Blue Mysteries 